Reviews

Reflecting on 2022

Random Observation/Comment #785: 2022 was financially rough, but emotionally rewarding. I’m okay with this. Life is good. Kindness is contagious. In 2022, we traveled again and celebrated life with friends and family. I love weddings. Invite me to more weddings. I’ll take good pictures and dance all night. I’ll eat all the food and chat with everyone. This year, I...

30 Random 2022 Insights

Random Observation/Comment #784: The best notetaking app is the one you use. Inspiration is spontaneous and I love bottling it. Why this List? I’m continuing my end of year activities and previous 2021 version of Random Insights by looking at the randomness in my Google Keep Notes. Here’s some of my favorite out of context random notes from 2022. ~See...

30 Random 2020 Insights

Random Observation/Comment #692: “Don’t wake me, I plan on sleeping in.” ~this whole week Why this List? When going through my end of year clean up, I archive old Keep notes that come from random inspirations. Here’s some of my favorite out of context random notes. Normalization of social experiences Companies are also trying to be your bank Cold milk,...

Reflecting on 2020

Random Observation/Comment #691: Black Mirror really did a scarily good job with this new immersive season. In 2020, we lived through the calm before the storm – a war fought in sweatpants. Traveled to: San Francisco (in Jan), Massapequa Park (in March), and Colorado (in July). And then literally nowhere else. Triumphantly: moved to Denver during a pandemic, did a...

Reflecting on 2019

Random Observation/Comment #636: Be present. There’s no time like now to listen and enjoy the little things. In 2019, I fell in love with the monotony of living a simple life. Traveled to: Philly, Utah, San Francisco, Toronto, Twice to Colorado, Minnesota, London for SIBOs, Virginia, London for Cordacon, Boston, Rhode Island Triumphantly: Finished a 30 day challenge drawing Evie,...

Reflecting on 2017

Random Observation/Comment #595: Be Kind. The world can use more kindness. I’m slowly getting closer to the meaning of life. In 2017, I became a father: Traveled to: Boston, San Francisco, Toronto, Grand Canyon (for babymoon), Las Vegas, Bahamas (for fyrefestival), Miami, London, Los Angeles, Austin, Peru, DC, and Philadelphia. Triumphantly: became a father, road a bike across the Golden...

Favorite Blogposts of 2017

Random Observation/Comment #594: Adulting is so hard. Time is better than money. Life is overall pretty good. I had some very ambitious blogging goals for writing about my experience as a new parent, but parenthood did not give me the same time. Regardless, I think I came up with a few gems. Here are my favorite blogposts of 2017:  ...

Favorite Blogposts of 2014

Random Observation/Comment #491: Maybe I write too much and maybe I don’t put enough photos in my posts, but boy am I happy to keep on chugging. I’m doing that blog thing where you highlight your favorite pieces from the past year in hopes to get more views. Since I don’t make money off this site, I’m just doing this...

Reflecting on 2014

Random Observation/Comment #490: I hope I’m aging like fine wine instead of milk. (I’ve probably taken this joke from that ventriloquist guy and used it multiple times). In 2014, I: Traveled to: Nepal (parahawking), Beijing, Vancouver/Whistler, Jamaica (showed up and bought tickets), Turkey/Istanbul (getting Clemens’d), hiked up some mountains, Norway (Oslo/Sweden), and Italy (Emilia-Romagna roadtrip). Triumphantly: Made money on photography...

Be Productive. Get Momentum.

Random Observation/Comment #426: Realizing the value of time, as much as time itself, is priceless. People are naturally very reactionary creatures with a narrow field of awareness (you can only hold so many priorities in your head at one time). This is why we respond to emails throughout the day when it’s easy to address a quick notification for something that...

[Gaming Lessons] Stanley Parable

Random Observation/Comment #421: One can learn from everything… Especially playing video games. (Quick warning: There are minor spoilers, but not anything you probably don’t already know from reading other reviews about this game.) I had never written anything about video games because I never found one that probed my personal psycho-babel analysis… until now. Stanley Parable. This is not your...

Parahawking in Nepal

Random Observation/Comment #410: Go Parahawking. Seriously. Plan a whole trip around it. It was the best 25 minutes of my life and I think everyone should do it. You’re welcome. I took a deep breath of fresh mountain air as I counted the white peaks of the Himalayas. The view from the top distracted me from the fact that I...

Reflecting on 2013

Reflecting on 2013

Random Observation/Comment #398: I envisioned each year of my life getting better and better as I age and learn more things. Even though I miss that year of crazy study abroad and traveling, I’m happy and still aiming high. Here’s to 2014! In 2013, I: Traveled to: South Africa (Kruger National Park), Swaziland, Scotland (Islay, Rothes, Edinburgh), New Hampshire, Grand...

Day 30: Reflecting on 2012

Day 30: Reflecting on 2012

Random Observation/Comment #317: Success, as a state of being, has been compared too much to our social norms. People think they’re successful when they have the right amount of money in their bank account, live in a house, driving a new car, working at an important high paying job as a CEO, and being admired by all.  This is wrong....

Reflecting on 2011

Reflecting on 2011

Random Observation/Comment #268: Life is not about finding meaning, it’s about making meaning.  Today should be an improvement from yesterday and this year should be the best year of my life.  “Always forward.” Quote of the year. Last year, I: visited Puerto Rico, Las Vegas, Munich, Schliersee, St Kanzian, Vienna, Barbados, and Russia; started a zipcar rental to do one-day...

Reflecting on 2010

Reflecting on 2010

Random Observation/Comment #252: Writing these year-end reviews always put me in such a good mood.  It enumerates and puts meaning to my accomplishments.  It gives me a burst of motivation to complete my goals list.  It lets me reevaluate my progress and recreate a new list of things to do the next year.  It gives me at least a direction...

My Mid-year Review: Needs Improvement

My Mid-year Review: Needs Improvement

Random Observation/Comment #243: I spend a lot of time re-evaluating my life and making sure I can: 1) look in the past and nod approvingly at my decisions, 2) predict the future career steps so I can nod approvingly at the image of myself in the future, and 3) follow my routine to make sure it has a happy balance...

Reflecting on 2009

Reflecting on 2009

Random Observation/Comment #228: One of my main goals has been to make every year the best year of my life. I’m worried I set my expectations too high for 2010 because 2009 will be hard to surpass. 2009 was a bad year for so many people due to job loss and the economic recession.  For me, it was definitely baller. 

Learning from the Bucket List

Learning from the Bucket List

Random Observation/Comment #223: This vacation is completely different from the ones I’ve had before. Instead of looking for purpose, I feel I’ve already found it.  I feel like I’m doing everything the same, but my mentality is just completely different.  I’m not trying to find a home; I’m just treating it as if it’s already my home.  This doesn’t mean...

Setting Up New Goals

Setting Up New Goals

Random Observation/Comment #218: Rejection is a terrible thing, but it’s definitely part of life.  Any excuses I give for my role in the situation will never be enough to ease my mind.  I’m not sure if it’s the disappointment in myself for not being able to think quicker or act sooner (or later), or if it’s just self-pity and self-loathing,...

Reorganizing my life

Reorganizing my life

Random Observation/Comment #217: Lately, I’ve been going through a weird phase.  It seems I did a full year (2008 Japan trip – Almost end of 2009 Europe Trip) as a frequent blogger and social network user (yes, I realize the addiction). I tried exposing myself to an invisible audience to try something new, and in the process, found one of...

My Intermediate Overview of Study Abroad

My Intermediate Overview of Study Abroad

Random Observation/Comment #194: It’s interesting how I’ve always saved the overviews of my trips until the trips are finally over when I’m in my pajammy-jams at 3PM while sadly trying to piece my life together for the next phase.  I never actually capture the intermediate stages of feelings when I’m truly happy or sad.  Instead, I’m usually writing it in...

The Past Year: An Overdrive of Happiness

The Past Year: An Overdrive of Happiness

Random Observation/Comment #183: In some sense, I feel like I’ve been on vacation for the past year.  I’ve exceeded my set-goals and began aspiring for so much more than just a few degrees.  I really have been taking life in every word, and it makes me extremely happy.  This year has been the best year of my life, and I...

Serious Reevaluation of Blogging – I’m wearing thin

Serious Reevaluation of Blogging – I’m wearing thin

Random Observation/Comment #181: I believe I follow the “jack of all trades, but a master of none” quote from my brother’s profile (we are so similar and different, it’s ridiculous).  Unfortunately, I am finding this freedom of choice of trades as a burden more than a step-up.  I feel like I have A.D.H.D. in a room filled with shiny objects. ...

It’s Like a New Era

It’s Like a New Era

Random Observation/Comment #120: I didn’t really grasp the concept of waiting for a specific date to turn a new leaf and break bad habits.  We’re changing years, but what does that do except make me mess up writing the date for the month of January?  These New Year Resolutions scream procrastination and a weak mind.  If you want to do...